Electrical switch mechanism



a ch 27 c. F. WOLFORD ELECTRICAL SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR. 0. F. Wolfo rd,

I ATTORNEY.

. 1,622,301 March 1927' c. F. WOLFORD ELECTRICAL SWITCH MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 23, 1923 2 Sheets-SheetZ LEFT ug m INVENTOR. (L. Y. W0 lfo rd,

BY W; ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FRANCIS WOLFORD, OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed October 23, 1923. Serial No. 670,299.

This invention relates to a switch mechanism for use in connection with electrically operated signalling systems for vehicles,

more particularly to motor driven vehicles and has for one of its objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a sw nging or pivoting, foot operated electrical switch mechanism for use in connection with a signalling system associated with the brake or other pedal of the vehicle whereby a signal indicating the direction of movement of thevehicle may be displayed in the daytime or a light at night, by simply depressing the alternate ends of a swinging element forming a part'of said mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be attached Without material structural change to the pedals of motor driven yehicles of varying forms and construct on and in which the signal imparting port on may be located upon any part of the vehicle irrespective of the location of the pedal. lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevationof a foot operated brake lever pedal showing the adaptation with the upper end thereof of a switch mechanism, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch mechanism.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the base plate of the switch mechanism.

Figure 4is an inverted plan View of the pivoted or swinging element of the switch mechanism.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuit connections of a signals. ling system and further illustrating in longitudinal section the switching mechanism and the signalling element in elevation.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View, in section, of the switching mechanism.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7--7, Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 denotes the pedal of a brake lever and which has pivotally'connected to its upper end, as at 12, a support or head piece 11, and to which is secured a switch mechanism, in accordance with this invention.

The switch mechanism comprises a base plate 13 of oval contour, and which is formed throughout with an up-standing flange or rim 14, and each of the sides of the flange 14, centrally thereof, is formed with a vertically disposed apertured ear 15. The edge of the plate is bevelled and the outer face of the flange 14 is shaped to form a continuation of the bevel of the edge of the plate 13.

Arranged in superposed relation with respect to the plate 13, as well as overlapping the flange 14 thereof, is a foot operated, pivotally mounted oval-shaped circuit opening and closing member or element provided with a conducting strip formed with a series of spaced depending contacts and also formed at the longitudinal axis thereof, between its transverse median and each end, with a socket 16 in its lower face. The element 16, which is in the form of a plate is provided throughout with a depending rim 17, having its inner face bevelled, and the said rim 17 is of a'height to permanently surround the flange 14. Each end of the element 16 is formed with a vertically disposed stop 18 to arrest the movement of the foot in a lateral direction. The sockets 16 formed in the lower face of the element 16, oppose the sockets 15' formed in the upper face of the plate 14.

Depending from the element 16 are perforated cars 19 coacting with the ears 15 to receive a pin or pivot 20, by which means the element- 16 is pivotally or swingingly mounted on the base plate 13.

Mounted in the opposed sockets 15, 16, are coiled springs 21 which operate normally to maintain the element 16 in spaced relation with respect to the base plate 13, and further act to normally maintain certain of the contacts carried by the element 16 spaced from certain contacts carried by the base plate 13.

The upper face of the base plate 13 is provided with a vertically disposed socket '22, in which is arranged a spring controlled ported by its spring and the latter acts to maintain the contacts 23 and 25 in engagement when the element 16 swings on its pivot in either direction.

Carried by the upper face of the base pl ate 13 is a pair of fixed contacts 26, 27, and each of which is spaced the same .distance from the pivot 20, and depending from the lower face of the element 16 is a pair of fixed contacts 28 and 29. arranged in spaced relation, and the former opposing the contact 26 and the latter the contact 27. The contacts 26 and 27 are normally maintained out of engagement with the contacts 28 and 29 through the medium of the coil sprin s 21. When the element 18 is swung in one irection on its pivot, the contact 28 engages the contact 26, and when swung in the other direction contact 29 engages contact 27. As before stated, the contact 23 is in permanent engagement with contact 25 and remains in such engagement when the element 19'isswung ineither direction on its pivot.

Secured, to the lower face of the element 16, conductor strip 35 and which is insulated, as at 36, from the elementl6. The contacts 25, 28 and 29 are secured to the conductor strip 35 and electrically connected therewith.

To illustrate the operation of the switch mechanism reference is had to Fig. 5, which illustrates a signaling element indicated at 30 and adapted to be attached to some part of the vehicle where it will be visible to the drivers of approaching or departing vehicles or to edestrians, and it is not desired to limit t is part of the device to any specific part of the vehicle.- The element 30 will be provided with transparent sides so that the legends thereof will" be visible from either or both sides.

Located within the element 30 is one or more light bulbs or lamps for each legend or colored lens, and indicated by broken lines, with the sockets of the lamps represented conventionally at 31 and 32.

A source of electric ener for instance an electric battery indicate conventionally at 33, is in electrical connection with the sockets 31 and 32 and the contacts 23, 26, and 27 as illustrated.

The contacts 23 and 26 and 27 are insu lated one from the other as indicated at 34.

The switch mechanism, in accordance with this invention is simple in construction, canbe inexpensively manufactured and applied to various forms of motor driven or other vehicles.

The preferred embodiment of the invention'is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that modifications within the scope of the claims may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A switch mechanism comprising a pivoted support, a base plate fixed thereon, a pair of lower outer contacts fixed to said base plate, a lower intermediate spring controlled con tact projecting from the upper face of sale plate and arranged betweensaid pair of contacts, each of said fixed contactsin a normally open circuit, said spring controlled contact permanent in circuit with a source of electrical energ said contacts insulated from each other, a foot actuated circuit opening and closing element pivoted upon said plate and associated with said fixed contacts, a conductor secured to and insulated from the lower face of said element, an upper pair of out-er contacts, an upper intermediate contact, said upper contacts fixedly secured to and having permanent electrical connection with said conductor, said intermediate contact in electrical engagement with said spring controlled contact,"

said upper outer contacts selectively engaging with the lower outer contacts on the pivoting movement of said element to electrical- .ly couple with the said other contacts that circuit in which is disposed the engaged outer contact to close such circuit, and means interposed between the ends of said element and plate for normally maintaining the lower outer contacts spaced from the upper outer contacts.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

' BLES FRANCIS WOLFORD. 

